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80/20 of Ecom: 3 Ways to Win During the 90-Day Tariff Pause (Chinese Sellers Hate #2) - 5/16/25

Shipping bottlenecks, de minimis changes & the Mexico advantage

Author

Gary Huang
May 16, 2025

Hey guys,

In this week's newsletter, we're focusing on what matters most right now - navigating the rapidly changing tariff landscape.

With the temporary reduction from 145% to 30% creating both opportunities and challenges, smart sellers are making strategic moves during this 90-day window. 

Let’s get into it in this week’s 80/20 of Ecom 👇

  • Trade Surge: China-US Container Traffic Recovers Fast

  • China Import Fees Fall—But Will De Minimis Perks Survive?

  • With Tariffs in Flux, Mexico Stands Out as a Supply Chain Solution

  • Unlock AI Automation Success—No More Waiting, Just Building!

As a result of the recently-announced 90-day pause on the tariffs to come down to 30 percent from 145 percent, there's been a rush - shippers are rushing to move goods before potential new duties are imposed.

After 90 days, this is causing a spike in the bookings, and it's really straining the capacity, and skyrocketing of shipping rates. Carriers are trying to adjust schedules and adapting, adding capacity to meet demand, but this situation is going to lead to a lot of short-term volatility in shipping costs.

Takeaway for Amazon Sellers: Book your shipments early to avoid price spikes. Monitor freight market trends during tariff pauses. Act on this now, guys.

The White House has temporarily relaxed the duties on parcel imports from China that entered the country without duty prior to May 2nd. Lawmakers are considering eliminating the de minimis exemption altogether, which would impact all low-value imports.

The policy shift could increase costs for e-commerce sellers relying on direct-from-China shipping. This debate reflects their ongoing efforts to tighten trade enforcement and close loopholes.

Takeaway for Amazon Sellers: Prepare for potential end of de minimis exemption. Review landed costs and consider alternative fulfillment strategies. However, this could be potentially good news because this could reduce the number of Chinese sellers taking advantage of this loophole from paying any tariffs.

Given Trump's recent temporary China tariff reduction from 145% to 30% for 90 days, savvy sellers are quickly pivoting their supply chains. 

In this exclusive training, Mexico sourcing expert Susana Bermudez reveals how e-commerce sellers can transition manufacturing to Mexico in as little as 30 days – and why even if tariffs drop further, diversification remains your safest strategy.

The webinar delivers eye-opening insights that most sellers don't know about Mexican manufacturing capabilities.

Forget outdated assumptions about quality or capacity – Mexico's manufacturing landscape has transformed dramatically, offering everything from ZERO tariffs to shipping times measured in hours instead of months.

What You'll Discover:

  • Why securing manufacturer exclusivity agreements NOW locks out your competition later

  • Which 12+ product categories thrive in Mexican manufacturing (with real factory footage)

  • How shipping from Monterrey to Texas takes just 3-5 hours (versus 30+ days from China)

  • The cultural differences that make or break supplier relationships in Latin America

  • Why Chinese factories are rapidly setting up operations in Mexico (and how to benefit)

  • The surprising truth about quality comparisons between Mexican and Chinese manufacturing

Smart sellers are already making their move while others wait to see what happens with tariffs. When everyone rushes to Mexico simultaneously, you'll want to be ahead of the curve with established relationships and exclusivity agreements already in place.

If manual processes are slowing down your operations, it’s time to turn automation ideas into real business solutions. Join Ritu Java for a hands-on AI Automation Masterclass designed to help you go from concept to execution—even if you’ve never used a no-code platform before.

Whether you’re brand new to Make.com or overwhelmed by the endless AI automation possibilities, this hands-on workshop will break down the process and get you building fast.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

  • 🔧 A beginner-friendly Make.com walkthrough — perfect for first-timers.

  • 🔄 How automation logic really works — understand how tools connect and trigger.

  • 📸 Real-world examples — like auto-tagging conference photos with AI + Google Sheets.

  • 🎯 How to prioritize the right automations for maximum ROI and time savings.

📍 Workshop Details:

🗓️ Date: Wednesday, June 5
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM PST
💰 Early Bird Price: $99 (Price increases to $129 soon!)
🎟️ Reserve Your Seat Now — Spots are limited!

If you’ve been stuck in “I understand the theory but haven’t built anything” mode, this is the workshop that will change that. Ritu’s sessions always sell out because they deliver real, tangible results.

Go from curious to confident in just 90 minutes — and start automating like a pro!

The next 90 days present a rare window of opportunity to reduce costs, optimize your supply chains, and position your business for sustained profitability. Take decisive action now—whether it’s capitalizing on temporary tariff relief, exploring alternative sourcing in Mexico, or leveraging AI automation to streamline your operations.

Stay informed, stay agile, and equip yourself with the right strategies to navigate today’s complex trade environment confidently.

📌 In Case You Missed It

I work with brands and sellers to help them grow, scale, and succeed. Here’s how we can work together:

🎯 Consulting – Get tailored strategies for Amazon Japan, sourcing, or profitability.

🤝 Partnerships – Let’s collaborate on webinars, content, or events.

📩 Contact me: gary [at] 8020sourcing.com

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-Gary